Maria Sharapova, has expressed her frustration over the timings of the Fed Cup matches

Anna Kournikova’s countrywoman, Maria Sharapova, has expressed her frustration over the timings of the Fed Cup matches.

According to Sharapova, the Fed Cup matches should not take place straight after the completion of the Slams because that makes it very tough for the players.

Sharapova was actually a part of the Russian squad that had featured in the tie versus Poland earlier this year, but, she then withdrew herself from the next tie because of injury issues.

According to the rules of the World Tennis Association, the female players need to play in the Fed Cup thrice or more if they have to fulfil the criteria for the Olympics qualification.

Speaking about the scheduling of the Fed Cup games in an interview, Sharapova said, “The people who are preparing the schedule must take into account the physical efforts that the players have to put in to reach the back end of the Slams. For them to come out of that and go straight in the Fed Cup, it’s really tough.”

“It’s a great competition and I love taking part in it, but, the scheduling makes it a hassle.”

“If it had been a little better scheduled and maybe there’s a year gap in between, it would have proved to be quite a successful.”

Sharapova has to play against the Australian player Samantha Stosur at Roland Garros tomorrow. Read more »

Maria Sharapova is not someone who panics

Anna Kournikova’s compatriot, Maria Sharapova, is not someone who panics that much after her defeats. She rarely admits that she has lost her form even if that is the case.

Most of the times she would say it’s just a bad day and that’s the way it goes sometimes.

The current circumstances are no different. Sharapova has had some pretty poor outings on the court, but, she is not showing any signs of panic.

But, is she really cool inside too? Does she think everything is alright with her game?

It’s not rocket science to see that Sharapova has suffered a dip in her game. But, isn’t she too egoistic a player to address it and start working on it?

She is in the best position to know what’s wrong. It’s being supposed that she is maybe carrying some sort of niggle.

If it is true, then getting knocked out of Miami at the earlier stages can actually prove to be blessing in disguise as it would give her extra time to rest.

Because of the performances that Sharapova has put up recently, she has reached a stage where her no. 2 Status in the world is in danger now. Read more »

Maria Sharapova wants new Players to avoid Media

Maria Sharapova reckons a young player should never pay too much attention to what is being said about her in the media and whom she is getting compared to because that would only put pressure on her.

Sharapova herself faced that situation when she started her professional career. Because of her beauty and her Russian background, people started comparing her to the then superstar Anna Kournikova.

Sharapova has now spent more than a decade on the tour and has made her own identity. Still, at times, in the press conferences, she gets asked about the similarities between her and Kournikova. Read more »

Andy Murray fantastic form continues

Andy Murray is in fantastic form at the moment and there is a great chance of him being able to clinch the Australian Open for the first time ever.

Australian Open is one of the two Grand Slams missing from Murray’s CV, but, with the kind of preparation he has come with this time around, he should make a strong case for himself in the tournament.

The Scot already has a title to his name this season. He won the tournament on the Emirates turf after his opponent in the final, Novak Djokovic, withdrew himself due to sickness.

Djokovic was surely a higher ranked player than Murray there, but, if that game had taken place, it would have gone real close.

Murray had been playing some fantastic tennis before the final and he could well have managed to topple Djokovic in that sort of rhythm

Murray has really flourished in the last few months. The latter half of the last season was brilliant for him.

Under Amelie Mauresmo, his coach, he has started to know his game better than before and has started playing on his strengths now.

Murray seems to be getting quite better temperamentally as well.

Murray has reached Australia a few days before the Australian Open. He would first participate in the Hopman Cup.

That’s good for the 26-year old. The summer is in full swing in Australia at this time of the year and for somebody who is coming from a cold country like Scotland; it would take a bit of time to get acclimatized.

Murray, himself, admitted that coming to Australia early would help him.

Speaking to the reporters yesterday, the World no. 6 said, “These are unfamiliar conditions for me surely. I am not used to such hot weather. But, as days go by, I would adapt myself.”

Novak Djokovic into semi finals of the French Open

Novak Djokovic in through into the semi finals of the French Open after taming the feisty Milos Ranoic and seems all set to bag the title of the tournament. Djokovic at present is number 2 in world and won the match against Ranoic with the score 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 and finally made it to the semi finals.

This season would be the 22th semi final and 6^th Roland Garros for Djokovic. He will be facing off Ernest Gulbis of Latvia in the semi finals.  If he bags the final title on Sunday, he would be the 8^th man to go down in history to have completed the Grand Slam career.

The twenty seven year old had quite the journey to the semifinals where he took on Joao Sousa in the first round with the score 6-1 6-2 6-4, while the score in the 2^nd round was6-1 6-4 6-2 against Jeremy Chardy. The 3^rd round was great as well where he faced off Marin Cilic with a score of 6-3 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 6-4. The 4^th and the quarter finals were against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Milos Raonic with the score of 6-1 6-4 6-1 and 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 respectively.

Talking about his upcoming semifinals, Djokovic commented that he prefers to keep his focus only on the upcoming match and not think much about the finals. This helps to keep him focused. All he wishes to think about at present is Gulbis, since he is playing quite well of late and seems most confident.

The twenty seven year old further added that although Gulbis is playing well but he will still take his chances since he has had a great past few weeks. Couple of days off might just work more in his favor and will help him recover and concentrate on his practice.

Enrique Iglesias Talks Relationship

The Spanish singer and Anna Kournikova’s boyfriend Enrique Iglesias doesn’t think that something like perfect relationship exists. He reckons that difficult times come in every relationship and the couple involved just needs to get through those times.

Enrique was answering the questions in one of his interviews recently. When he was asked what the main reason is behind the smooth running of his relationship with Kournikova for more than a decade, he said, “I don’t think there is any specific reason. It’s just that we have not let the difficult times ruin our relationship. We have tried to get through such periods and I would suggest every couple to do the same. Because when the happy times come, you would enjoy them to the fullest.”

When asked why Kournikova has been her girl friend over such a long period of time, the 39 years old who is also a songwriter said, “I don’t find a cooler girl than her in the whole world. She laughs on my stupid jokes, she really understands me very well. She is always ready to let me concentrate on my work rather than force me to spend time with her and that’s something that I really like about her.”

When asked about his qualities which prompted Kournikova to fall in love with him, Enrique said, “I have no idea to be honest with you. It’s not that I am hugely romantic, that’s not the case. It’s only my songs which have romance in them. That’s it. So, I guess you will have to ask her why she loves me this much.”

Kournikova and Iglesias had met each other for the first time in 2001 when the former was an active professional tennis player. They have been a couple since that time.